Although AFC Richmond is a fictional club, Ted Lasso has regularly blurred the line between fantasy and reality by inviting a number of famous football personalities to guest appearances.
From Premier League legends to European icons, the success of Apple TV has welcomed some of the sport’s biggest names. Many of them appear as themselves, giving the series’ football universe an extra layer of authenticity.
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Whether it’s brief glimpses during match coverage, taking part in interviews or making surprise appearances, every cameo has been a delight for attentive fans.
Chris Kamara
Chris Kamara is best known as a reporter for Sky Sports’ Gillette Soccer Saturday, but started his playing career at Portsmouth as early as 1975. Throughout a 20-year career, he played for clubs such as Swindon, Brentford and Leeds, before finishing at Bradford City.
His first appearance in Ted Lasso comes in the second episode of season two, where he tries his hand at expert commentary with the rough-mouthed Roy Kent.
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Clinton Morrison
Clinton Morrison is known for his two spells at Crystal Palace, as well as stints at Birmingham City and Coventry City. Today, he is a high-profile commentator.
He first appears in the season three episode “We’ll Never Have Paris”, where he – like Kamara – portrays himself as a Sky Sports commentator. Morrison, who also represented Ireland on the national team, can be seen in three episodes of the series.
Paul Merson
Another one of Sky Sports’ most respected pundits has made a name for himself in Ted Lasso. Paul Merson, who spent most of his career at Arsenal, appears in one episode of season three – “4-5-1” – where he appears as a commentator alongside Morrison and long-time Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling.
Thierry Henry
Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, it is little surprise that the series creators welcomed the Frenchman. Thierry Henry, who scored 174 goals for Arsenal in his first spell, first appeared in the season two episode “Beard After Hours”, before making two more cameos in subsequent seasons.
His acting talents were already well known – the legendary striker starred in a classic Renault commercial back in 2002.
Gary Lineker
Perhaps the most recognizable face in British football commentary. After a playing career at clubs such as Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur, Lineker became the face of BBC’s Match Of The Day.
He appears alongside Henry in all three of the same episodes.
Peter Crouch
With his characteristic height and acrobatic finishing, Peter Crouch has become one of the country’s most beloved football stars. He played for ten different English clubs, and his 201 centimeters made him hard to miss.
In the series, Crouch can be heard in radio clips discussing the latest events surrounding AFC Richmond.
Jermaine Jenas
Jermaine Jenas makes his only appearance in the season three episode “Big Week”, where he portrays himself as a commentator on the Premier League round show.
He started his career at Nottingham Forest, before a three-year stint at Newcastle paved the way for a move to Tottenham – where he stayed for eight years – before finishing at QPR.
Ian Wright
While many know Ian Wright from his time as a commentator – especially on Sky Sports’ Stick To Football – Crystal Palace and Arsenal supporters will remember him for his exceptional goalscoring prowess.
Wright’s only appearance in Ted Lasso comes in season two, where he also plays the role of commentator.
Pep Guardiola
As one of the greatest managers of all time, it is fitting that Pep Guardiola appears in a series about a manager’s first steps in the Premier League.
In the penultimate episode of the third season – “Mom City” – Guardiola plays his role as Manchester City manager in a match against Richmond, and shares a heartfelt moment with Lasso after the game.
Eni Aluko
Eni Aluko is one of the world’s most famous female football experts. She played for Chelsea and Juventus, and started her career at Birmingham City. After stints at Charlton and Chelsea, she moved across the Atlantic and played for several North American clubs.
Her only cameo in Ted Lasso comes in season two, episode five, where she participates in a street football game against Richmond captain Isaac McAdoo.
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Overview of all guest appearances
| Player | Episode(s) |
|---|---|
| Chris Kamara | S2:E2, S2:E3, S2:E5, S2:E12 |
| Clinton Morrison | S3:E8, S3:E9, S3:E10 |
| Paul Merson | S3rd? |
| Thierry Henry | S2:E9, S3:E4, S3:E12 |
| Gary Lineker | S2:E9, S3:E4, S3:E12 |
| Peter Crouch | S2:E7, S3:E4 |
| Jermaine Jenas | S3:E4 |
| Ian Wright | S2:E6 |
| Pep Guardiola | S3:E11 |
| Eni Aluko | S2:E5 |
